6 Ways Scouting can help you live the LDS Youth Theme

2025 LDS Youth Theme: Look Unto Christ (D&C 6:36)

As a Scout Leader, you have a fantastic opportunity to help the youth, both in and out of the Church, to look unto Christ through various Scouting activities. Here are a few ways the Scouting program may align with this year’s theme:

  1. Service Projects: Engaging in service projects is a powerful way to emulate Christ’s example of serving others. You can organize projects that help the community, emphasizing the importance of serving with love and compassion, just as Christ would.
  2. Nature and Reverence: Scouting often involves outdoor activities, which provide a perfect setting to appreciate God’s creations. You can encourage the youth to reflect on the beauty of the Earth and how it points to a loving Creator.
  3. Christlike Leadership: Encourage Scouts to develop Christlike leadership qualities such as kindness, integrity, and patience. As a leader, you can model these qualities and recognize them in the Scouts.
  4. Goal Setting and Achievement: Working on merit badges and rank advancements teaches persistence and diligence. These qualities can be linked back to spiritual goals and commitments, helping youth see how striving for Scouting goals parallels striving to follow Christ.
  5. Spiritual Moments: Incorporate moments of reflection or devotionals during camping trips or meetings, focusing discussions on how Christ’s teachings can be applied to daily life, including Scouting activities.
  6. Moral and Ethical Values: Scouting has a strong emphasis on moral values which are akin to living a Christ-centered life. You can draw parallels between the Scout Oath and Law and Christ’s teachings, encouraging Scouts to internalize and live by these principles. Examples include doing your duty to God, doing a good turn daily, being trustworthy, obedient and reverent.

By incorporating these elements, you can help create meaningful experiences that explicitly connect Scouting activities to looking unto Christ.

How do these ideas resonate with your current practices?